Friday, March 14, 2008

This morning I took a deep breath, steeled my nerves, and faced the inevitable.

My first trip to the legendary New York DMV.

I meant to get my New York license ages ago. I've been living here for nearly six years, after all. But NY has all sorts of crazy regulations for exchanging an out-of-state license. First of all, the license has to be "valid" for at least 6 months. Nevermind the fact that I've been driving for over 12 years, if my current PA license had been issued less than 6 months ago, it was a no go.

Second of all, you need to present your social security card. I lost mine--along with my entire freaking wallet--roughly 4 years ago. I only managed to get it replaced last week.

My most recent PA license expired in January which, up until this point, has not proved a problem. I don't have a car here in the city, and the few times I've been carded nobody seems to care about the expiration date. Just the birth date. But I'm headed out to PA tomorrow morning to visit the family and friends, and I would very much like to be able to drive myself around without having to worry about getting pulled over and presenting an expired license.

So off to the DMV I went. More specifically, to the "License Xpress" center, which is where one must go to surrender an out-of-state license.

Luck, it would seem, was on my side, as there were very few people in line when I arrived, and shortly after I took my place in line for the camera station the place quite rapidly filled up.

Froggy - 1. DMV - 0.

Right.

So I take the eye test, let them take my photo, and sat down and waited for my number to be called.

I was called. I went to the window. I presented my documetation and she scanned each item.

I was told to go sit down and wait again.

I waited.

I was called. I went to another window. I paid.

And then I was told that my licence would be mailed to me in two to three weeks!

Now, in order to get a NY State license I had to surrender my PA license. They gave me a little piece of paper called an "Interim License," which will allow me to drive legally, but as for photo ID? Looks like I'm stuck carrying around my freaking passport for the next three weeks.

Which I hate doing.

I'm constantly afraid that I'll lose it and a.) they're a bitch to replace, and b.) it would suck to lose all the stamps from the various countries I've been to... sentimental value and all.

So to the NY State DMV I say "Nyeh!" And while I may have made it out of the building in under an hour, I still say that "Xpress" is a total misnomer.

What ever happened to truth in advertising, eh?

Oh wait, I work in advertising. I should know better.

At any rate, TGIFF! (I'll give you three guesses what the extra "F" stands for...) Tomorrow bright and early I am off to PA for a lovely 4 day holiday, where I will visit friends, get some school work done, let my mom cook for me, and get drunk with my parents! Hooray!